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August 30, 2011

Mount Etna Begins 12th Eruption Of Year

by editor

Italy´s famed volcano Mt. Etna has erupted for the twelfth time this year, spewing lava and ash into the upper atmosphere, according to an Associated Press report.

Italy´s Civil Protection Agency says the nation´s geophysics and volcanology institute on Monday registered increased explosive activity by Etna, eight days after the latest eruption began, spewing out a significant amount of ash in a southeast direction early in the day but that the eruption tapered off in about two hours.

Eruptions are not rare, and Italian airliners sometimes have to alter their routes to avoid flying through ash cloud. The airport at Catania city near the volcano wasn´t affected by the ash Monday.

Etna has several inhabited villages on its slopes. There was no word on any evacuations planned or in progress.

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Image Caption: Image of the east coast of Sicily and of Mount Etna as it was spewing ash or steam on January 11, 2011, before a lava eruption. Credit: NASA